Knock-down container



E- C. BRUNO KNOCK-DOWN CONTAINER SeptQS, 19 67 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1964 INVENTOR.

EDWARD C. BRUNO A TTORNE Y5 Sept. 5, 19

Filed June 15, 1964 E. C. BRUNO KNOCK-DOWN CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

EDWARD c. BRUNO MMZ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,339,715 KNOCK-DOWN CONTAINER Edward C. Bruno, 1880 S. Monaco, Denver, Colo. 80222 Filed June 15, 1964, Ser. No. 375,102 Claims. (Cl. 206-4531) This invention relates to a container and particularly a knock-down container which can be shipped and stored in compactly packed, knock-down form and can be rapidly and conveniently assembled from storage as desired to fill orders.

There is a need to expand the delightful custom of scending flowers great distances as a means of showing ones appreciation or remembrance for another. In addition to flowers, fruits, nuts, candied fruits, fruit cakes, and the like, could be sent in this manner. The material being sent would be packaged locally, as in the case of flowers, and delivered to the person to whom they are sent by local merchants. The local merchant would select choice merchandise, usually fancy quality from his stock and package it in very attractive gift packages. Such gift packages should involve the use of a container which can be shipped and stored in compactly packed, knock-down form and which can be rapidly and conveniently assembled in the desired sizes, as needed, from storage, preferably without the use of elaborate or special tools or the need for persons with special skills. However, heretofore all gift packages have been disadvantageous either because of the high cost, often in excess of twenty percent of the retail price for the container and its contents, or the unappealing and unattractive appearance. It has been discovered, however, that a container extremely attractive in appearance may be easily assembled from parts at a point remote from the place Where such parts are made and that the cost of the assembled container will be approximately only ten per-cent of the retail price of the container and its contents. Part of this cost reduction results from the fact that the parts for the container may be shipped in a compact form thereby greatly minimizing the bulk heretofore encountered in shipping commercially available containers.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an attractive container which can be shipped to a receiver in knock-down form for compact storage and efficient assembly in individual units as required.

Another object of this invention is to provide components for an inexpensive, easily assembled, attractive transparent container.

Another object is to provide an attractive, telescopable container.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive attractive container that can be assembled and used without the use of adhesive materials.

Additional objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description, which is given primarily for purposes of illustration, and not limitation.

Broadly stated in general terms, the objects of this invention are attained by providing a knock-down container which includes a base member and a pedestal member, each designed so that the base member and the pedestal member can be tightly fitted together to form a support column, and a package member which can be mounted upon the resulting support column and filled with material or articles to produce an attractive display. Both the base member and the pedestal member are shaped so that a plurality of each species can be compactly stacked or interfitted to form compact, lightweight packages for shipment. The package member is made of cylindrical sheet material, such as transparent plastic sheet which has been slit longitudinally and overlapped so that it can be compactly packed for shipment and easily and speed- 3,339,715 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 ily mounted to form a cylindrical container upon the assembled support column. A cover member is tightly fitted over the open top of the cylindrical container after it has been packed with the desired material or articles. 7

A more detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention is given below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded vertical sectional view showing the various members of one embodiment of the knock-down container;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the pedestal member of the container showing the internal structure thereof;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing the cylindrical package member of the container;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing the container assembled and packed with material;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a plurality of base members in compactly stacked relationship;

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing a plurality of pedestal members in compactly stacked relationship;

FIG. 7 is an exploded vertical sectional view showing an alternative structure for the base member and the pedestal member;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing a modification of the knock-down container of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar that of FIG. 3 showing an alternative structure of the cylindrical package member.

In the specific embodiment shown in the drawings the container includes a base member 10, a pedestal member 11, a package member 12 and a cover member 13. Base member 10 includes an annular flanged portion 14 and a re-entrant portion having cylindrical side walls 15 and a circular bottom 16. Base member 10 can be made by molding, or otherwise forming or stamping sheet material, such as sheet plastic or sheet metal, to the desired shape. Base member 10 preferably is generally discshaped, but other shapes can be used.

Pedestal member 11 also includes an annular flanged portion 17, but instead of a re-entrant portion, it contains a protruding portion having cylindrical side walls 18 and a circular bottom 19. The outside diameter of cylindrical side walls 18 is made substantially equal to the inside diameter of cylindrical side walls 15 so that the protruding portion of pedestal member 11'can be tightly fitted into the re-entrant portion of base member 10. A cylindrical portion 20 is formed annularly around the periphery of portion 17 and the height thereof is preferably kept small to show as much of the contents of the package as possible. It has been found that unexpected beneficial results are obtained when the height is made less than half the smallest diameter-of the fruit, keeping in mind some fruits are somewhat oblong in shape rather than being round, since with the fruit pressing outwardly against package member 12 an increased contacting force is obtained between portions of the package member 12 and the contacting surface of pedestal member 11. Pedestal member 11 also can be madeby molding, stamping, or otherwise forming sheet material, such as sheet plastic or sheet metal, to the desired shape. Pedestal member 11 also preferably isgenerally discshaped, but other shapes can be used. A plurality of raised protuberances 21, best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, preferably are formed on the inside of the flanged portion 17 to provide increased resistance to shifting of material packed inside the assembled container. I

Package member 12 is an open-ended cylinder in which the walls are made of sheet material which is provided with a vertical slit so that it overlaps to a suitable extent at 22 as shown in FIG. 3. The inside diameter of package member 12 preferably is made substantially equal to the outside diameter of cylindrical portion 20 of pedestal member 11 so that the cylindrical package .0 member can be fitted around cylindrical portion 2t] in overlapping relationship and secured in position by pressure sensitive adhesive tape 25, such as cellophane tape sold under the trademark Scotch Brand. Preferably, two or more strips of tape 25 are used. Package member 12 preferably is made of clear or transparent sheet plastic material such as cellulose acetate, methyl methacrylate, polyethylene, etc., so that the materials packaged in the assembled container present an attractive appearance from the outside of the container. For purposes of shipping a plurality of package members 12 are preferably compactly folded and disposed within a like member. For instance, eleven of these members in folded form fit within and substantially fill a twelfth without any damage occurring to any of the twelve.

Cover member 13 includes a cylindrical side portion 23 and a circular top portion 24. One or more holes 24a are preferably formed through top portion 24 to provide ventilation for the materials packaged in the assembled container and to prevent condensation of moisture on the inside walls of the container. Such holes also serve the purpose of attachment means for a colorful ribbon or bow (not shown) decoratively mounted on top of the container. The inside diameter of cylindrical portion 23 preferably is substantially equal to the outside diameter of package member 12 so that cover member 13 can be tightly fitted over the outside walls of the cylindri" cal package member and in tight contact with the mate rials packaged in the assembled container, as shown in FIG. 4. Cover member 13 can be formed of the same material of which package member 13 was made, or it can be made of sheet metal. The cylindrical side portion 23 is of suflicient length to permit telescoping thereof relative to the external mating surface of package member 12 to permit easily and conveniently accommodation of objects of varying, non-uniform size and shape.

It will be seen that the various parts or members of the container of the invention can be compactly packed for shipment by stacking or interfitting a plurality of like members. Thus a group of base members is shown stacked in FIG. 5. Similarly, a group of pedestal members 11 is shown stacked in FIG. 6.

It will be understood that a protruding portion 26 can be formed on the flanged portion 27 of a base member 28, as shown in FIG. 7 and that a re-entrant portion 29 can be formed on a flanged portion 30 of a pedestal member 31, instead of vice versa, as shown in FIG. 1. The alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 7 will function as described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1 and it will be seen that the base members 28 can be stacked and that the pedestal members 31 also can be stacked.

In FIG. 9 is shown an alternative cylindrical package member 32. Open-ended cylindrical member 32 is provided with an internal band, bead, boss, or the like, 33 which preferably is substantially continuous in peripheral length and which is dimensioned to abut against edge a of cylindrical portion 20' of pedestal member 11 and support member 32 upon the pedestal member.

This arrangement provides sufficient support for the boss portion to permit a filled container to be grasped about the package member 12 and raised or lifted without causing separation between the package member 12 and the pedestal member 11. Suflicient interface friction exists between the contacting surfaces of package member 12 and pedestal member 11 to prevent the package member 12 from sliding downwardly relative to pedestal member 11. Cylindrical package member 32 also is provided with a vertical slit 34 as described in connection with the embodiment 12 of FIG. 3.

In the modification of the knock-down container of the invention shown in FIG. 8, a central tubular package member 35 is installed to rest vertically upon circular bottom 19 of pedestal member 11. Tubular member 35 can be made of decorative paper, cardboard, etc., or of transparent plastic sheet material. It can be filled with nuts, dates, chocolates, hard candy, etc. Flowers also can be placed inside tubular member 35. In such case, a water-soaked sponge, or other absorbent material 36, which is also known in the trade as an oasis, can be placed inside tubular member 35 to keep the flowers fresh. Alternatively, a bottle 37 containing fruit juice, for instance, can be inserted as shown in FIGURE 4.

From the above description, it will be readily apparent that an inexpensive, extremely attractive knockeddown container has been described. One preferred method of shipping a plurality of containers as described herein involves the stacking of twelve pedestal members 11 in compact arrangement in one end of a box, the placement of twelve package members 12 in the central portion of said box, and the stacking of six groups of cover members 13 and base members 10 in the other end of said box, each group including two cover members 13 and two base members 10. The overall dimension of a box containing twelve such units where the package member 12 has a length of approximately ten inches and a diameter of approximately seven inches, is approximately 14%" x 11 /2" x 7 and the gross weight thereof is approximately five pounds.

Obviously, any other modifications and variations of the knock-down container of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising a base portion including a recessed central portion, an annular, longitudinally extending portion having an inner surface the diameter of which is substantially greater than the diameter of the recessed portion and an outer surface the upper part of which has a substantially constant diameter, said latter diameter being equal to or greater than the diameter of the remaining outer surface portion, and a generally radially extending, annular portion interconnecting said recessed portion and said longitudinally extending portion; a flexible, annular cylindrical portion open at both ends, said cylindrical portion being constructed for and having one end thereof peripherally mounted upon said longitudinally extending portion of said base portion; anl pressure sensitive means to hold said base portion and said cylindrical portion in an assembled condition to prevent inadvertent longitudinal separation thereof.

2. A container as described in claim 1 in which the height of the annular, longitudinally extending portion is less than the radius of the items to be disposed about the inner periphery thereof.

3. A container as described in claim 1 including a cap portion mounted upon one end of said cylindrical portion, said cap portion having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said cylindrical portion.

4. A knock-down container according to claim 1, wherein a tubular member is removably mounted concentrically inside the container and supported in the recessed central portion of said base portion.

5. A container as described in claim 1 in which said generally radially extending, annular portion of said base portion has a portion adjacent the central recessed portion formed therein disposed above substantially all the rest of said generally radially extending portions.

6. A container as described in claim 5 in which the raised portion of said generally radially extending portion of said base portion has formed therein a plurality of protuberances projecting vertically upwardly therefrom.

7. A container comprising a base portion including a raised central portion, an annular, longitudinally extending portion having an inner surface the diameter of which is substantially greater than the diameter of the raised portion and an outer surface a part of which has a substantially constant diameter, said latter diameter being equal to or greater than the diameter of the remaining outer surface portion, and a generally radially extending, annular portion interconnecting said raised portion and said longitudinally extending portion; a flexible, annular cylindrical portion open at both ends, said sylindrical portion being constructed for and having one end thereof peripherally mounted upon said longitudinally extending portion of said base portion; and pressure sensitive mean to hold said base portion and said cylindrical portion in an assembled condition to prevent inadvertent longitudinal separation thereof.

8. A container comprising a base portion including a recessed portion having a substantially constant inner diameter, an annular, longitudinally extending portion having an inner surface the diameter of which is substantially greater than the diameter of said recessed portion and an outer surface comprising a pair of interconnected longitudinally extending surfaces thev upper surface portion of which has a larger diameter than the lower surface portion, and a generally radially extending, annular portion interconnecting said recessed portion and said longitudinally extending portion, said radially extending portion having a portion adjacent the recessed portion formed therein disposed above substantially all the rest of aid generally radially extending portion, a transparent, telescopable cap portion, and a flexible, trans parent, annular cylindrical portion having an inner surface comprising a pair of interconnected longitudinally, extending surface portions one of which has a larger diameter than the other, the inner diameter of the surface portion having the larger diameter being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the upper portion of said outer portion of said longitudinally extending portion and the inner diameter of the smaller surface portion being substantially equal to the diameter of the lower portion of the outer surface portion of said longitudinally extending portion of said base portion, said base portion and said cylindrically extending portion being mounted with at least a part of the lower portion of the outer surface portion of said annular longitudinally extending portion of said base portion in mating relation with at least a part of the inner surface portion of the cylindrical portion having the smaller inner diameter, said cap portion being mounted upon the other end of said cylindrical portion.

9. A container as described in claim 8 in which the base portion also includes a support member a portion of the lower surface thereof circumscribing a larger area than the projected area of said recessed portion and the upper surface of which has a recess formed therein in which is disposed a portion of the outer surface of said recessed portion of said base portion.

10. A container as described in claim 8 in which the raised portion of said generally radially extending portion has formed therein a plurality of protuberances projecting vertically upwardly therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 145,145 12/1873 Baggs 108-150 648,435 5/1900 Rider 215-99.5 1,606,563 11/1926 Deane 206-52 2,094,783 10/1937 Belsinger 229-23 2,283,406 5/1942 Bacon 248174 2,747,345 5/ 1956 Plastino 22053 2,920,852 1/1960 Hennessey 248174 2,955,705 10/1960 Krueger 220 X 2,996,208 8/1961 Schroeder 215-995 3,051,303 8/1962 Daanen 215--99.5 X 3,079,037 2/1963 Schechter 220-60 FOREIGN PATENTS 509,493 7/1939 Great Britain.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING A BASE PORTION INCLUDING A RECESSED CENTRAL PORTION, AN ANNULAR, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTION HAVING AN INNER SURFACE THE DIAMETER OF WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE RECESSED PORTION AND AN OUTER SURFACE THE UPPER PART OF WHICH HAS A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT DIAMETER, SAID LATTER DIAMETER BEING EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE REMAINING OUTER SURFACE PORTION, AND A GENERALLY RADIALLY EXTENDING, ANNULAR PORTION INTERCONNECTING SAID RECESSED PORTION AND SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTION; A FLEXIBLE, ANNULAR CYLINDRICAL PORTION OPEN AT BOTH ENDS, SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION BEING CONSTRUCTED FOR AND HAVING ONE END THEREOF PERIPHERALLY MOUNTED UPON SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTION OF SAID BASE PORTION; ANL PRESSURE SENSITIVE MEANS TO HOLD SAID BASE PORTION AND SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION IN AN ASSEMBLED CONDITION TO PREVENT INADVERTENT LONGITUDINAL SEPARATION THEREOF. 